OSHAKATI – Oshana governor Elia Irimari has called on the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) to reopen the Eloolo Abattoir at Oshakati.

He made the call during the opening of the week-long MAWLRs Annual Work Plan and Management Workshop in Oshakati, Oshana region.

The Oshakati Eloolo abattoir was reopened in 2020 after it was shut down in 2016, and then closed again two years later.

Irimari said by opening the abattoir, farmers within the northern communal areas (NCAs) will be able to get market access to sell their livestock.

MAWLR executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata said the ministry will do everything possible to reopen the abattoir as soon as possible, indicating that the ministry has initiated a process to terminate the leasing agreement with the current operator, and the process is now at arbitration.

He further highlighted the successful operationalisation of Green Scheme projects, with a total of eight projects currently under production, which are Etunda, Musese, Sikondo, ORIP, Shandikongoro, Hardap, Uvungu-Vhungu and Shadikongoro.

The executive director also confirmed progress at the Kalimbeza Rice Project, saying the evaluation for the appointment of the consultant to redesign the project has been finalised, and is due to be tabled for discussion. -Nampa